MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) will only hire top-caliber security guards, not the typical guards who cannot thwart robberies in malls, an official said yesterday.
“We will hire security guards with high caliber, high competence, excellent service, known for guarding foreign embassies, hotels,†said Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, PNP public information office director. “We will hire security guards known for good standing service of excellence and professionalism.â€
Sindac justified the hiring of security guards to secure the three main gates, saying the move could save money for the PNP.
He said an ordinary Police Officer 1 has an entry level salary from P18,000 to P20,000 plus allowances, benefits and service firearms, while an ordinary security guard is paid a monthly salary of P10,000 to P15,000.
“There is a clear savings and the unquantifiable benefits – police officers would patrol the streets and investigate crimes, rather than be on sentinel duty,†Sindac said in a briefing.
He noted that the program was conceptualized as early as 2008 and PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima is merely implementing the move.
“The security guards will be assigned only at the gates, national headquarters lobby, multi-purpose center, parking and other areas where we deem need sentinels,†Sindac said.
He said critical areas and offices in Camp Crame will still be managed and handled by police officers. He said the quick response team under the Headquarters Support Service will still be supervised by the camp commander, who is a senior police officer.
For 2014 alone, Sindac said the PNP allocated P21 million, about P1.7 million per month, to pay 80 to 100 guards on three eight-hour shifts per day.
Although a number of active and retired police generals have their own security agencies, Sindac said they have yet to finalize any contract, which will be subject to a regular bidding process.